Friday, Apr 30, 2004 at 14:52
I doubt it is the 4runner running gear (that's what I've got on the surf) as in the surf 1995 was the last year they used it, then they switched over to the full-time 4wd system now in use on the prado.
Mine was one of the last surf to have the part-time system. RAC or similar is a must, these motors (like any modern TD) will cost you $4k plus just for a second hand one, so make sure you get it right! ;-)
Cooling system must have genuine toyota coolant, and must not have any corrosion around the joins. Compression
test, brilliant, you don't need any help! Your already a smart cookie, do it. Unfortunatally there are not many ways you can really
test a cooling system other than getting it hot!
Mine was 15% blocked when I bought it and it would get hot on 35c days while going up steep hills or in deep sand. Cost me $210 to have the thing recored. Might be worth just doing that anyway when you pick it up. Then you will at least have peice of mind. When they take the radiator out, get thing to whak to tubes of the silicone into the clutch fan as
well. Also checkout the condition of the top and bottom radiator tanks as they tend to get pin hole leaks in them and need replacing (that was the other thing I had done and was included in the above price). Just look at the top of the radiator and see if there are any red or green little spots, that'll be dried coolant that has seeped out when the pressure was high and the engine was hot. These will make the system loose pressure right when it really needs it and should be replaced.
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